Tx Capitol Report | A view from the Texas state capitol

Quick-fire questions cause stumbles for candidates

All three candidates struggled at Friday's gubernatorial debate during a round of questions that tested their knowledge of certain state topics.

Here is a rundown of the questions, the answers provided by the candidates and the answers that were expected by the panelists asking the questions.

So, do you know the answers to the questions?

Is it important that gubernatorial candidates successfully answer these questions?

Does this make you change your mind about any of the candidates?

Gov. Rick Perry

Question: How many private sector jobs were created last year and how many government jobs were created under you in Texas last year?

Perry answer: "I can't tell you how many government jobs. I can tell you what the percentage is. In Texas, we produce about five percent of the total job market in that sector, so, 90 to 95 percent of the jobs created were in the public sector."

When pushed further by panelist Wayne Slater, of the Dallas Morning News, Perry said "I know you're having trouble understanding percentages, Wayne."

Slater replied "just give me a number, how many public and how many private jobs or are you just not going to answer?"

Perry: "I've told you the percentage wise. We had 270,000 jobs lost in Texas in 2009."

Expected answer: 360,000 private sector jobs lost in Texas in 2009 and 88,200 government jobs gained.

Question: A lot of Texans are out of work. They are relying on unemployment benefits. What is maximum weekly payment they are entitled to?

Perry answer: "It's about $405. The minimum is about $56."

Expected answer: $431 weekly.

 

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison

Question: How much of the fence is already built along the Texas-Mexico border?

Hutchison answer: About 150 miles.

Expected answer: About 105.8 miles.

Question: Senator, you are running for governor. Who was the first governor of Texas?

Hutchison answer: Burleson.

Expected answer: James Pinckney Henderson.

Former Wharton County GOP chairwoman Debra Medina

Question: What percentage of the state budget is for the Texas Department of Transportation?

Medina answer: "I think the number is about 12, 13?"

Expected answer: Nine percent.

Question: What is the average annual pay for a Texas public school teacher?

Medina answer: "All the years of service? Not starting? I'm going to say $46,000."

Expected answer: $46,179.

Will Hutchison resign?

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison reiterated her intention to resign from the senate during Friday's gubernatorial debate.

The issue returned to the spotlight this month after Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts was elected to the senate.

Brown's election stripped Democrats of the filibuster-proof majority in the senate.

The election left some wondering whether Hutchison's resignation would return a Republican to the seat or be an opportunity for the Democrats to regain that majority.

But Hutchison did not sway from her position. She said she still plans to resign win or lose after the primary election.

"There is not a scintilla of a chance that a Democrat will be elected to the United States Senate from Texas," she said.

Gov. Rick Perry for president in 2012?

Gov. Rick Perry was asked during Friday's debate if he would promise to serve his entire four-year term if re-elected.

Some have speculated that he could be considering a bid on the Republican Presidential ticket in 2012. Texas monthly's Paul Burka explored that possibility in a cover story for the magazine.

"That is kind of up to the good Lord," Perry said about staying in office through the end of his term. "I have no idea what my future holds for me four years down the road...I've got a lot of faith in the Lord. I hope he is going to let me live for four years."

So, what happens if lives through the four years?

Perry said he would stay put.

“If your intent here is to question where I would want to go any better than being the governor of Texas--that place hasn’t been made yet," he said.

Photo of debate studio

The second Republican gubernatorial debate starts at 6 p.m. tonight in Dallas.

Here is a picture of the studio where Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and businesswoman Debra Medina will square-off.

Moody campaign kick-off event flier

 

Democratic debate

The two leading Democratic candidates for governor will square-off for the first time in a debate next month.

Former Houston mayor Bill White and haircare magnate Farouk Shami will debate at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in Fort Worth.

The candidates will answer questions from journalists, audience members and social media sites during the 60-minute debate.

Republican gubernatorial candidates -- Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and businesswoman Debra Medina -- will participate in their second debate Friday night in Dallas.

Read the El Paso Times Saturday for a full story.

El Paso in new campaign ad

El Paso has a starring role in a new YouTube campaign video for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami.

The video features the Sun City Roller Girls skating around near Cielo Vista Mall with campaign signs for the candidate. 

It starts with one of the roller girls putting on her gear and tying her skull and cross bones shoe laces. The signs that zip by the camera read "Farouk For Texas Governor."

The words "Farouk" and "Texas Governor" are larger and easier to read. It took me a while to see the word "For" in between them.

Shami faces former Houston Mayor Bill White and five other candidates in the Democratic primary election for governor March 2.

I was curious to find out how much the video cost the campaign. His campaign staff said they would have to get back to me with those numbers.

In the meantime, check out the video.

Gov. Rick Perry to visit El Paso

Gov. Rick Perry will be in El Paso next month but voters will have to pay to hear him speak.

His campaign staff on Monday was unable to give a specific date for his next visit to El Paso but the local Republican party is already promoting a fundraiser with him as a guest speaker.

Perry will be the guest of honor for Abraham Lincoln's Birthday Dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Wyndham Airport Hotel.

Tickets range from $50 for one person to $2,500 for a table of 10 with access to a VIP reception, a photo opportunity and a listing as a host in the program.

Michael Moore, the chairman of the Republican Party, said the governor will speak at the dinner to help raise money for the local party.

"This is not where he is giving a campaign speech to just anybody who shows up," Moore said. "This is a fundraising banquet and he is the keynote speaker as the governor of Texas."

Perry faces U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Debra Medina in the March 2 primary election.

Moore said the event should not be considered an endorsement for Perry in his reelection campaign.

"As the chairman I can't do that and we generally don't do that but I think the majority of El Paso Republicans are Perry supporters," Moore said. "We will see what happens on primary election day."

Perry will not meet with newspaper editorial boards but Hutchison will

Gov. Rick Perry, who is running for an unprecedented third term, will not be actively seeking the endorsement of the El Paso Times editorial board.

In fact, he will not be visiting the editorial boards for any Texas newspaper before the March 2 primary election, according to his campaign staff.

"The best use of the governor's time is to be talking directly to Texans as opposed to traveling across the state to different newspapers to sit in a conference room for hours at a time," Spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said Monday.

So, when will the governor visit El Paso to meet with voters?

"I can definitively say he will be back in El Paso before election day," Frazier said. She did not provide a specific date.

Perry will face U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Debra Medina in the the Republican primary.

Jason Embry from the Austin American-Statesman reported the governor's decision Monday morning. 

Later in the day, the Associated Press reported that Hutchison said she would seek newspaper endorsements during a campaign stop in Lubbock.

"I think it's very important that we offer ourselves," Hutchison said, according to the Associated Press.

They also quoted her saying "it's a little arrogant on the governor's part to just say he's not going to talk about his record. I mean what is he afraid of."

Hutchison's campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Baker was unable to provide a date for a return visit to El Paso.

She said she did not know if Hutchison would visit before the primary because her schedule has not been completed.

Hutchison last visited El Paso in August. Perry's last stop in El Paso was in October.

Both received the endorsement of the El Paso Times editorial board during their reelection bids in 2006.

Sarah Palin will campaign for Perry in Houston area

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign office released this today:

Gov. Rick Perry will be joined by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at a rally in support of his re-election campaign on Sunday, Feb. 7 in the Houston area.

“I look forward to standing with Sarah to promote our shared conservative values of limited government, low taxes and individual freedom,” said Gov. Perry. “Gov. Palin is a true conservative leader whose priorities and message resonate with Texans, and I am honored to have her in Texas supporting my campaign.”

Gov. Palin will campaign with Gov. Perry to highlight the positive momentum Texas is experiencing through conservative leadership that has cut taxes, created jobs, strengthened education and secured our border.

Here is a post from Sarah Palin's Facebook page that mentions Perry:

I want to again thank the good people of Massachusetts for propelling a commonsense, independent agenda forward! May the working man and woman feel empowered now more than ever to get involved in their government, and let's put this great country on the right track.

The past year continues to offer the promise of commonsense government in so many areas. There are steps we can all take to get there, one of which is to support candidates who promise to fight for the people and against politics as usual. I'm excited to get out and help elect candidates who will bring those principles to our nation's towns, state houses, and directly to Washington D.C. We are already making plans to support the candidates our nation needs to make a difference and speak for everyday Americans.

I look forward to helping Governors like Rick Perry in Texas, Representatives like Michele Bachmann in Minnesota, and heroes and statesmen like Senator John McCain. We will support these candidates and others so that they can continue to fight for our American values.

The special election yesterday in Massachusetts was truly amazing. It is a clear indication of things to come and a demonstration of the momentum we all share in the fight for the values and policies that will get our country back to work. The commonsense conservative principles of liberty and fiscal responsibility are on the rise, and that's why I'm going out and campaigning as hard as I can to make a difference. I can't wait to join all of you in supporting these great candidates and many more over the coming months.

In the meantime, visit the websites of Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and John McCain. And join us as we embark on America's journey to November!

- Sarah Palin